Improvement in tombs



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. MCMINN AND OLIVER FILBEY, OF JEFFERSON, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN TOMBS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 221,969, dated November25, 1879; application filed- September .23, 1879.

To all whom it may'concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM J. MCMINN and OLIVER F'ILBEY, of Jefferson,in the county of Greene and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certainnew and useful 1m provements in Tombs; and we do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and toletters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

This invention relates to certainv improvements in tombs; and it has forits object to provide an ornamental covering for a grave that willprovide for the security of the corpse, and will also serve as a supportfor the head and foot pieces.

To this end the invention consists of a castmetal frame of suitable sizeto cover the grave, being embedded in the earth above the same when inuse. Around the edges of the frame, on the inside of the same, is aflange, which supports a central piece, which is somewhat shorter thanthe frame," leaving recesses at each end for the reception of the headand foot pieces. The .central piece is provided with longitudinalopenings at the sides, forming beds for flowers when in place, and hasarranged upon it a removable vase for the reception of cut The parts areall constructed of cast metal, and theproper inscription is cast withthe headpiece.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a per spective view of ourinvention, and Fig. 2 a horizontal section of thesame.

The letterA indicates a cast-metal frame adapted to be embedded in theearth above a grave. Said frame may be of any suitable shape, and ofproper size to cover the grave.

At the inner edge, near the-topof the frame, is

a flange, B, upon which is adapted to rest a central piece, G, ofsuitable shape. The letter D indicates two lugs projecting from theframe, which are provided with threaded apertures E, for the receptionof screws passing through apertures Fin the central piece, by means ofwhich it is secured to the frame. The said central piece is slightlyshorter than the frame, so as to leave spaces G at each end for thereception of the head and foot pieces H I, which are of cast metal, asis also the central piece, the said head and foot pieces being confinedin place by means of screws L, extending through theframe A at each end.

At each side of the central piece is formed a longitudinal opening, M,to be filled with earth, so as to make a bed, in which flowers can beplanted, and on the central piece, 0, is located a removable vase thatcan be filled with cut flowers.

The parts are preferably galvanized or coated with a protective coveringto prevent rust or corrosion.

We are aware that metallic plates have been placed beneath the marblestones of tombs to prevent the discoloration of the marble, and this wedo not desire to claim.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secureby Letters Pat cut, is

1. In combination with the frame A, adapted to be embedded in the earthabove a grave, the central piece, 0, and devices for attaching the sameto the frame A, and the head and foot pieces secured in said frame bymeans of the central piece, substantially as specified. 2. Incombination with the frame A, the central piece, 0, provided with meansfor securing it in place, and the head and foot pieces secured thereby,substantially as specified.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing we have hereunto set our hands.

WILLIAM J. MOMINN. OLIVER FILBEY.

